Key-lever for type-writing machines



(No Model.)

J. BRADY. 1 KEY LEVER FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

' No. 417,626. Patented Dec. 17, 1889.

14. PETERS. Pnmmm m. Washinghm me UNITE STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES BRADY, OF BROOKLYN, NEWV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE FITCH TY-IE WRITER COMPANY, OF DES MOINES, IOWVA. v

KEY-LEVER F OR TYPE -WRITING MACHINE S.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 417,626, dated December 17, 1889.

Application filed July 19,1888 Serial No. 280,362. on model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES BRADY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New -York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Key-Levers for Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to type-writing machines, and the purpose thereof is to provide a novel construction of the key-levers used therein, whereby the cost of manufacturing such parts is very materially reduced, while the strength and simplicity thereof are correspondingly promoted. Itis also my purpose to provide an extremely simple construction arms may be readily and instantaneously attached to and detached from the same, afirm and secure pivotal connection being provided between said key-bars and link when said parts are connected.- It is my purpose, also,

,to provide a key-bar formed from a single integral-piece of metal, having a bearing between its ends adapted to engage with a straight shaft, and provided Withan extended bearing to support and guide the key-bar and resist any tendency to lateral or torsional displacement. It is my purpose, finally, to apply'my invention to the key-bars of typewriters already in use without material change in the form and construction of said parts; and to the several ends mentioned the invention consists in the novel features of construction and new combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, and then definitely pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings accompanying this application, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a key-bar constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the key-bar as it ap-' pears after it has come from the dies, but before it is completed. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the key-bar shown in Fig. 1 when completed, together with part of the link to which said arm is pivotally connected. Fig.

3 is a central vertical section of the key or finger-piece mounted upon the completed key-bar. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan'view of the parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the rearward end of the completed key-bar, showing the manner of attaching and detaching the linkwhich connects said keybar to the type-carrying arm. Fig. 6 is a rear end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the completed key-bar with the link attached as the parts appear when in use. Fig. 8 is a plan View of one of the completed key-bars. Fig. 9 is aside elevation of a key-bar of ordinary or known form, showing the construction by which the present invention is incorporated therein.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral 1 designates the body'portion of a keybar constructed in accordance with my invention. I form these-key-bars, preferably, of flat metal, which may be struck in a die and turned out in a single blank at one blow of the die. This blank consists of the body portion 1, having a bearing 2 between its ends to receive the supporting-shaft, and provided with the upwardly-turned extremity 3, upon which the key or finger-piece is to be mounted.

At or nearthe angle between the body portion 1 and the vertical part 3 is formedavertical extension 4, which is adaptedto serve asa guide for the key-bar in its vertical movements and by its broadened surface to resist any tendency to torsional displacement of the keys. At the rearward end of the key 0 bar the metal is widened and is divided by two parallel cuts into three horizontal sections 5, 6, and 7, whereof the middle section 6 may, if desired, be slightly wider than the others. At the upper extremity of the verti- 5 cal portion 3 is formed a substantially circular enlargement 8, having a vertical slot or cut 9, extending from its upper edge to the center of the circular part 8.

In completing the key from the blank shown ICO in Fig. 1 I bend the divided portions of the circular enlargement 8 in opposite directions the purpose.

and upon a diametrical line drawn through the center at right angles to the slot 9, thereby forming two quadrantal horizontal plates 12, Fig. 2, lying upon opposite sides of the upright arm 3. Upon these plates I mount the key, consisting of a circular shell 13, having its upper edge 1-t spun inward and downward and provided with lugs 15, depending from its lower edge upon opposite sides, substantially as shown in Fig. 4. The glass protector-plate 16 is laid within the circular shell 13, resting against the spun-down edge, 14. The plate, card, or paper 17, hax'ing the proper symbol,-is then laid beneath the glass, and the whole is placed upon the quadrant-a1 plates 12, where the parts are secured by simply bending the lugs 15 inward and upward, two of said lugs being brought into engagement with the horizontal plates 12, and the others being bent up against the letter plate or card 17. These lugs, lying upon opposite sides of the vertical arm 3, serve to prevent the finger-piece from turning upon its support. Between the ends of the keybar is formed the bearing 2 for the supporting-shaft, the bar being suitably widened for Upon one side of the bar, arranged centrally in the widened part, is formed the tubular bearing 18, which may be attached thereon, or, if preferred, may be struck up by the die when the blank is formed and finished afterward.

Inasmuch as the key-bars when mounted are all supported upon a straight shaft, and as the ends carrying the keys orfinger-pieces diverge or spread outward in fan shape from the rearward extremities, to which the links are connected, to the forward ends, on which the keys are mounted, it is necessary to so form the several bars that the axes of the bearings 18 shall be arranged at different angles to the vertical planes of the several keybars, said angles being proportioned to the angles of divergence of the key-bars. I therefore form upon each side of the widened bearing portion a bend 19, Fig. 8, whereby the part carrying the tubular bearing 18 is brought into parallelism with the correspondin g portions of the other keys, while those portions of the key-bar upon each side thereof lie in substantially one and the same plane and form the proper angle with the shaft lying in the bearing 18.

Upon the central section 6 of the threefold rearward extremity of thekey-bar is mounted in any suitable manner a pivot-pin 20, projecting at right angles from one 'face of said central section. The upper and lower sections 5 and 7 are then bent slightly in the same direction and the central section is bent to a corresponding degree in the opposite direction to bring the parts into substantial parallelism,as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The

link connected to said key-bar is provided at its end with a plate 21, having a width which enables it to pass between the sections 5 and 7, and, when held horizontally and provided with an aperture adapted to engage the pivot-pin 20. ,IVhen this engagement is effected, the link is turned upon the pivot-pin until it stands at the proper angle with the key-bar, in which position it is held in its said engagement by the sections 5 and 7, as shown in Figs 5, G,and 7. Its disengagement is effected by turning the link untilthe plate 21 is parallel with the cleft sections upon the end of the key-bar, whereupon it may be readily removed from the pin.

I have shown the link as composed of abar 23, tapped into an eye upon the end of the plate 20, as this construction gives a convenient vertical adjustment and has been used heretofore in type-writers; but I may construct said link in any other suitable manner.

In many of the type-writers now in use the key-bars are mounted upon their supportingshaft at their rearward extremities, while the links are connected thereto at a point intermediate of the ends. To adapt myinvention to machines of this class, I may form the shaftbearing 24: at the end of the key-bar, Fig. 9, and at a suitable point between the extremities form the connecting parts 25. In this construction Isimply extend thekey-barin width sufficiently to enable the said arms 25 to be formed above and below the same and integrally therewith and mount the pivot-pin 26 upon the body of the key. In this construction, also, the sections 25 only are bent laterally to admit the link, the body of the key being substantially straight. The manner of attaching and removing the link is the same as that already described.

Although this invention has been described as adapted to a type-writer, it is evident that it may be used without material alteration in apparatus of various kinds.

That I claim is- 1. A key-bar for type-writers, consisting of a metallic plate having an upwardly-turned end provided with a centrally-slotted extension, the metal on each side of the slot being bent in opposite directions at right angles to said slot, forming two horizontal quadrantal plates to support the key or finger-piece, substantially as described.

2. A key-bar for type-writers, consisting of a flat metallic plate having an upwardly turned end provided with a circular enlargement having a central slot, the metal on each side of the slot being bent at right angles thereto and in opposite directions, in combination with a circular shell containing the glass protector-plate and letter-card, said shell having dependinglugs bent upward to engage the key-bar and support the glass and card, substantially as described.

3. A key-bar for type-writers, composed of a flat metallic plate having at the point where the link is connected therewith three parallel sections or parts, said parts being spreadlaterally, but retained in substantial parallelism, and the central section having a pivot-pin to engage the link, substantially as described.

torsional displacement, substantially as described.

6. A key-bar composed of a flat metallic plate having the vertical portion 3, provided with the centrally-cleft circular enlargement 8, having a key 13 mounted thereon, and having, also, the rearward extremity cleft to form the three sections 5, 6,'and 7, in combination with the link 23, pivotally connected with one of said sections, substantially as described.

7. In a type-writer, the combination, with a key-bar having a fiat metallic body provided at the pointof attachment of the link with three substantially parallel arms or sections, Wi th a pivot-pin mounted upon one face of the central section, of a link having a flat end provided with an aperture adapted to engage said pivot-pin, said flat end being soformed as to pass between the upper and lower parallel sections of the key-bar when la'id horizontally on the centralsection, and to be then turned at an angle to the key-bar to engage the upper and lower sections, by which the pivotal engagement is preserved, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES BRADY.

Witnesses:

W. D. O. Boccs, WM. J. BROWN. 

